"We're happy to have beaten Saint Louis," said head coach Joanie Milhous. "And I'm proud of how the team played a full 70 minutes today. Kent State is a strong team and they capitalized on our mistakes."

Zambon's goal came at 36:01 in the first half off a penalty corner. Junior back Kayla Kenney gathered the ball and handed it off the Zambon for the strike. The goal was Zambon's first of the season and Kenney's third assist.

The Golden Flashes started scoring early with Karleigh Carlin sending a shot past senior goalkeeper Alex Diekmann at 8:38. Missy Ramsey and Hannah Faulkner scored for Kent State at 11:49 and 33:14, respectively, before Zambon's tally broke the shutout.

The Wildcat offense and defense stepped up in the second half. The Golden Flashes put up 21 shots in the second, but only one became a goal at 61:35. Villanova recorded 10 shots in the second half, compared with three in the first, but were unable to send any past Kent State goalkeeper Jahna Jordan.

Diekmann made eight saves on 12 shots on goal in the game.

The Golden Flashes dominated the game offensively, recording 36 shots to Villanova's 13. Kent State also held a 17-8 advantage in penalty corners.

The Wildcats begin BIG EAST play against crosstown rival No. 11 Temple on Friday at 7 p.m.